Hazelnut Decaf or Mocha-Latte? Just Squeeze my Elbow

 We have all heard the jokes about how we are all, because of our sedentary lifestyles and obsessive computer use, turn into lardy folks with shrivelled, atrophy-ed muscles and giant calloused fingers( good for keyboarding).  We'd be unattractive monkeys.

Of course, we thought that this would just happen to us - we wouldn't necessarily go looking for it.  But would you purposely adapt your body to make you more computer-friendly?  It has been discussed - putting microchips in our kids to track them etc., and then there is this, about a man who took it a little further.  If this is the future, I would like a Keurig coffee machine installed in my elbow, please.

I Love Rock 'N' Pose Music! - Erin's Yoga Challenge

Day 10

Today was my best yoga session to date! I couldn’t get out the door fast enough to get to my 9 a.m. Vinyasa class. I’m really starting to love the effect my regular yoga practice is having on my attitude – and possibly my biceps and core muscles!

I quickly quieted my mind when I settled on my mat this morning, so I knew this was going to be a great session. The class was small, five students at most, and my favorite teacher was leading the class. She’s so much fun and always has a kernel of life knowledge to share with the class. As we began, the teacher announced that she was going to try a new music mix for the class.

Vinyasa requires faster movements than traditional yoga, so I knew the songs would be a little more upbeat than the “classic” yoga music of chimes and chanting. However, as we held ourselves in our Downward Dog poses, I was jolted by these seven words: “WAKE UP IN THE MORNIN’ FEELING LIKE P.DIDDY!” Yes, Ke$ha – and Shakira, Bono, and Mary J. Blige, for that matter – had found her way into my yoga class!

I laughed out loud and had to put myself into Child’s pose as quickly as possible for fear of disturbing the rest of the class. I thought that perhaps the teacher had put on the wrong playlist but she didn’t flinch – she just kept talking about our upcoming pose and adjusting the students. I pulled myself together, hit the pose, and had to work very hard not to bob my head or sing. I run to Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” song and I hate to admit that I love it! I also thought there was a good chance I was the only person in the room who a) knew this was Ke$ha and b) knew every word to the song. For the sake of my yoga practice, it was imperative that I fly under the radar on this one.

This blending of hit music with my newfound love of yoga is the highpoint for me – it just can’t get any better. I left the class smiling and happy. I had the best of both worlds. Which got me to thinking – is Miley Cyrus next?

Namaste,
Erin

twin baby boys have a conversation - part 1 ORIGINAL VIDEO

Take a few moments to check out these adorable, hysterical twins deep in conversation! The talkative one is me - the other one (the one shaking his head and motioning "go away" is my husband...) Check it out!!

Erin's Yoga : Coming Clean - or not clean - on attendance

Day 9

OK, I’m going to come clean on today’s yoga session. I didn’t go. And I didn’t go because I didn’t have any clean yoga pants. I had every intention of putting my yoga clothes in the wash last night before I went to bed. However, I fell asleep reading, “Miss Nelson is Missing!” to my 5-year-old. The next thing I knew it was 6:30 a.m. No clean yoga pants means no yoga.

I did make the effort to find something to wear to class. Really. But all I found were clean Life Is Good pajama bottoms and black winter-weight running pants. Neither of those were acceptable options: The Life Is Good bottoms are brown flannel and have little yellow dogs all over them – too hot and too distracting. The black running pants make Mommy Jeans look like a good fashion choice.

My yoga skip day still brought some unexpected goodness my way, however. I figured out that I could hide the ugliness of my running pants under a hoodie so I walked the lake with my smart, witty friend, followed by a nice cup of green tea at Starbucks. I put my yoga clothes in the dryer the minute I walked in the door – so no excuses for tomorrow!

Namaste,
Erin

Erin's Yoga Challenge - Don't Mock Me...I'm Flexible

Day 8


I am horrified to admit this, but my husband is mocking my yoga practice. I think he has tried to pretend he’s into my newfound obsession and the fun I’m having blogging about my experience. But, truth be told, he’s just not that into it. I find that shocking.

How can he not be enlightened by the life-affirming tidbits I share with him after each class? How can he not be impressed by my increased strength and flexibility? Perhaps I pushed him too close to the edge when I went on and on about one of my yoga teachers, her many lavish tattoos (I think she has at least 10 – one of which is a beautiful lotus flower) and my new appreciation for people who cover their bodies with meaningful art?

I finally figured out how my husband really feels about my yoga quest today at the Paperstore. I was quietly browsing the books in the Mind, Body, Soul section when he came up behind me and said, “Oh, here we go,” under his breath. He then rolled his eyes and said, “Come on; let's go.”

As we left the store, I confronted him and learned that he doesn’t mock my yoga but rather “the funk and cost” of my yoga (his words, not mine). His assessment is that for the $150 I paid for my month of yoga, I’m basically locking myself in a hot room and playing Twister. “You should save me the money, go down to the basement, turn the heat up, and get out the Twister mat.” Oh really.

Then he preceded to tell my I should think about changing my email to namaste@verizon.net and end my cell phone voicemail message with “Namaste.” He has said Namaste about 100 times today. That, my friends, is more than I can take.

So, tomorrow in class when my teacher reminds us to dedicate our practice to someone or something, I am going to dedicate my session to my husband. And I will continue to do so until he stops saying "Namaste."

Namaste (so there!),

Erin

President Obama's Speech on Libya

I tried, I really did - I sat upright on the couch, fully attentive, ready to listen to President Obama's speech.  With a sinking heart, I realizied that I was not going to make heads or tails out of what he was saying - when the President speaks lately, it reminds me of trying to understand the logic of my boys when they were toddlers - "I buried my Tonka truck in my covers because I want cookies with my lunch, Mommy!"  I feel the same way with our President, each and every time he speaks.

We went into Libya because of atrocities aimed at the citizenry of Libya, but we are not going to complete the mission, and this is not a war?  Apparently, we have basically "stopped by," with no real goal other than ending atrocities (sounds great, good press bite) and NOT being in an actual war.  Ask the soldiers who are on both sides - I'd bet they would call it a war.

Mr. President, be honest with us - at last.  If I were on the President's advisory team, I would have 1) gotten him over to a safe city in Japan, to visit our ally in their time of need, 2) put the kibosh on the NCAA picks in public (it's just annoying), and 3) encourage this man to define the mission, and define why he went into Libya.  What about the Congo?  What about the rest of the Middle East?  Don't they fit the parameters of American intervention that he laid out?  If he is in Libya, and fears for the people of Libya, then take Ghaddafi out.

Oh, and on our economy?? A lot of us are drowning, sir, so when you have time...

Erin's 30-Day Yoga Challenge Continues...

Day 7


I had quite the epiphany today in class: I think the yoga teachers and studio owners of the world should band together to hire an international marketing rep to help them get the REAL message out about why we should all do yoga – it’s a multi-tasking opportunity not to be missed!

For example, I’ve started slathering on a very heavy moisturizer and lip balm each morning as I head out the door to the hot yoga studio. The temperature in the room is at least 95 degrees – comparable to a sauna in my opinion. So, I’m thinking that the heat will help my skin open up and completely absorb the moisturizer – a la mini facial while I’m stretching, breathing and enjoying some Erin time.

I also pick up some great parenting tips during class – another unexpected bonus! Today my teacher made quite the statement as she was trying to convince us that folding our chin onto our ankle was a good thing: “Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it isn’t good for you.” I immediately thought of broccoli. And then I thought of my 12-year-old son who hasn’t had a vegetable since it was in a Gerber baby food jar.

I shared my yoga teacher’s theory with my son the minute I picked him up from school today and how I thought this translated nicely into his borderline psychotic dislike of vegetables. “Fine, I’ll try broccoli tonight,” he said. “But I have one question before I do – how many days left of this yoga challenge?”

Namaste,
Erin

What Next?

"Abercrombie & Fitch's preppy style has made it a favorite with teens and tweens. But the fashion chain was the subject of outrage today after it released a range of bikinis for eight to 14-year-olds with padded cups. The Abercrombie Kids 'Ashley push-up triangle' top, which retails for $24.50, features thick padding in the cup to give the illusion of a larger chest size. "

Padded bikini tops for seven and eight year olds??  Isn't this almost child porn?  When are we going to stop acting like sheep and rise up against this garbage - for the sake of our world's daughters? 

I can't imagine any father letting this stand for one minute, when he sees his little girl, who still plays with Barbies and just lost a tooth, parading around in a padded bikini top.

Let this corpoation know how you feel by email or phone.  And we have GOT to be more vocal, to the point where a company wouldn't dare try to sell this crap to us, because we are finally wide awake.

Erin's Yoga Challenge...Soooo Tired!

Day 6

I had very low expectations for myself as I entered the yoga studio early this morning, as I had not quite stuck to my anti-hangover drinking strategy last night. Instead of following my wine/water/wine/water plan, my pattern last night looked more like wine/wine/wine/water/water. As I lowered myself onto my yoga mat and quickly became overwhelmed by the 95 degree heat in the room, it was obvious to me that front-loading the evening with wine and then trying to play catch-up with water was not a successful yoga-preparation strategy.

Still, I was there at 8 a.m. -- which was more than I could say for my dinner party friends. I will be honest – I struggled the entire class on all fronts. I was tired, dehydrated and hungry. Instead of thinking about my breathing, I kept wondering how long the line was at Bagel World and whether there would be any Bagel Energy bars left. I thought about coffee and how I desperately needed a Venti Pike with skim milk – STAT. I thought about the busy day that lay ahead of me and whether I would be lucky enough to find time for a quick nap.

When I heard the teacher finally utter the word, “Namaste,” I bolted up from my mat, said a few quick goodbyes to my fellow yogis, and headed first to Starbucks and then to Bagel World. I was lucky enough to get the coffee but not the Bagel Energy bar – so I settled for a few bites of my daughter’s chocolate glazed donut and called it a day.

Namaste,

Erin

ERIN'S 30 DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

Day 5

OK. Truth be told, I did not go to yoga today. My third “skip day” wasn’t due to lack of motivation or drive, however. No, my lack of attendance was due to hockey, lacrosse, and the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. Yes, things were back to normal on Saturday as I reclaimed my usual spot on our family priority list – the bottom!

I must admit that I was a little relieved when I realized that my yoga class times coincided with my kids’ Saturday plans, as I’ve developed quite a strong ache in my left chest muscle – I think I’ve done one too many high-planks.

Although I didn’t get to class, I did try to employ the breathing techniques I learned while I drove to the movies and found myself engulfed in giggles, screams and a much-too-loud Lady GaGa. My deep and focused in-and-out breaths didn’t quite get me to my happy place during this chaos, but I came close enough for a busy Saturday.

As for Sunday, I am on the list for the 8 a.m. class but here’s the reality – if I don’t follow my tried-and-true wine/water/wine/water strategy at my friend’s dinner party tonight, a hangover and sleep deprivation will take their rightful place at the top of the family priority list – and I’ll be stuck with two well-intentioned but yoga-less days! Fingers-crossed... I hope I can stick to my guns!

Namaste,
Erin

What Men Need

Quote of the day:  My mother just said to me "I don't know what it is, but men just need to go up on roofs.  They just need to do it."